Caitriona Balfe
Sam Heughan
Tobias Menzies
Graham McTavish
Duncan Lacroix
Grant O’Rourke
Stephen Walters
Bill Paterson
Gary Lewis
Lotte Verbeek
Laura Donnelly
Douglas Henshall
Steven Cree

Developed by:
Ronald D. Moore

2014-
Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Starz
TV-NR

(This review includes an update after the end of the two-part first season.)

At its beginning, “Outlander” is best watched during a Calgon bath. However, as the season progresses, it provides a few jolts (the first of which happens toward the end of the pilot and involves Claire, the central character, time traveling), so you won’t fall asleep. And by the end of the two-part first season, you may never sleep again. I kid you not. …

The setup isn’t an unfamiliar one for a period piece with romance and drama. Claire’s narration looks back at the past (the events of the story) with poignancy but without regret. And a soothsayer reads her tea leaves and her palm, foreshadowing her second life to come. The pacing goes right along with all of this. At times, this series moves along with glacial sentimentality.

While there’s really nothing new in “Outlander” (even the time traveling in a romance isn’t new), it has been created with care. It’s beautifully shot with clear images and muted colors. The language doesn’t embarrass itself, not a small thing for a romance, and the acting is solid. Claire has enough will and grit to be a strong heroine, but you also believe that she’s capable of vulnerability. Her male counterpart, Jamie, is her perfect match. That results in a nice balance that works for this genre. In general, this show works, for what it is. …

And then, it starts to take a turn. Along with the romance and drama, there’s an unflinching harshness underneath the layers of “Outlander.” It can surprise you with just how bold it can be in depicting the reality of its story. The first season ends with a crescendo of terror that I’ll never forget. And people say that “Game of Thrones” is shocking. Well, check this out!

I’m really interested to see what happens in the next season. After seeing both parts of the first, I know that anything could happen. So, despite the occasional inconsistencies of “Outlander,” I look forward to its return.

Verdict: Good Overall (Very Good in Parts)

About: (Source: outlander)

The “Outlander” series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history, and adventure in one epic tale. It follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945, who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743. Upon her arrival, she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. But when she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited. Now, Claire’s heart is torn between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.